New stewardship guidelines for the use of Nemathorin have been published to maintain protection of growing crops from all key soil pests, as well as to minimise the risk of residues in tubers at harvest.

• The key elements of the new guidelines include:
• Qualification on the existing  119 day pre-harvest interval
• Confirmation of existing application rates for PCN, FLN and wireworm
• Reminder of PA4G qualification required for applicator operators

Extended Syngenta Stewardship Initiatives for Sustainable Nematicide Use provide growers with detailed Integrated Pest Management advice and fully incorporate the new guidelines. Copies of the new document can be downloaded from the Syngenta website: www.syngenta-crop.co.uk  

Syngenta Potato Crop Manager, Andrew Curtis, highlights that the pre-harvest interval of 119 days (17 weeks) remains unchanged, but has been further clarified to stipulate this is to the point of desiccation or green top lifting, whichever is the earlier. The label application rates for Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN), Free Living Nematode (FLN) and wireworm are also unchanged.

Mr Curtis added that the stewardship guidelines reinforce the requirement for applicator operators to be qualified to NPTC PA4G standard, with necessary skills to calibrate equipment and assess field conditions to ensure accurate application and incorporation. Full incorporation of Nemathorin into the soil in one pass, ideally to a consistent depth of 15 – 20 cm, is required to avoid leaving granules on the surface.      

New supplies of Nemathorin will carry a sticker with the following wording: ‘NEMATHORIN 10G IMPORTANT CHANGES TO LABEL. The treated crop must not be desiccated or harvested for human or animal consumption for at least 17 weeks after application’. Stocks in distributors’ stores will also be labelled with this sticker alerting growers to the PHI stipulation.  Growers with Nemathorin in their chemical stores can contact Syngenta for copies of the stickers and a revised label for their records. The amendments do not alter the registration number and existing stocks can continue to be used in accordance with the new guidelines.